It is said that after one attains the illusory or rainbow body, that a person becomes deathless because the mind never seperates from the body anymore.
But because of the bodhsittva vow one has to stay in samsara either in the higher realms or comes back to this world again.

Does an enlightened master has to take rebirth in the higher god realms or in the human realms to fullfill his vows or can he be everywhere there without rebirth by staying simply in his illusory body ?

And if he takes rebirth in the human realm or deva realm, what happens to the illusory body, does he loses it and has to attain it again in the next life?

Illusory body is not the same thing as rainbow body. The first is method and the second is a result of the practice of Dzogchen. People who attain rainbow body don't take rebirth anymore. They continue to benefit beings as they are, for example Guru Rinpoche and Vimalamitra.

/magnus

"We are all here to help each other go through this thing, whatever it is."
~Kurt Vonnegut

"The principal practice is Guruyoga. But we need to understand that any secondary practice combined with Guruyoga becomes a principal practice." ChNNR (Teachings on Thun and Ganapuja)

The different sūtras in accord with the emptiness
taught by the Sugata are definitive in meaning;
One can understand that all of those Dharmas in
which a sentient being, individual, or person are taught are provisional in meaning.

The different sūtras in accord with the emptiness
taught by the Sugata are definitive in meaning;
One can understand that all of those Dharmas in
which a sentient being, individual, or person are taught are provisional in meaning.

As far as I understand, if one achieves Rainbow Body, one can have limitless manifestations throughout space and time. Therefore, there is no limit to the number of Nirmanakayas/Tulkus one can manifest in order to work for the welfare of all sentient beings. To think otherwise in terms of Rainbow Body is to fall into the extreme of nihilism.

Adamantine wrote:Yeah but in Nyingma we have all these tulkus like
Anam Thubten whose prior incarnations took rainbow-body..
I suppose either they are considered purely emanations not rebirths?
Any thoughts?

Are you referring to Anam Thubten of Richmond, CA? I'm curious, who is considered to be his previous incarnation?

My understanding is he is the emanation of one of the disciples of Dudjom Lingpa who attained rainbow body. It seems he has eliminated reference to this from any website associated with him, I think he prefers to be humble and not broadcast these things.

Contentment is the ultimate wealth;
Detachment is the final happiness. ~Sri Saraha

Adamantine wrote:My understanding is he is the emanation of one of the disciples of Dudjom Lingpa who attained rainbow body. It seems he has eliminated reference to this from any website associated with him, I think he prefers to be humble and not broadcast these things.

Adamantine wrote:My understanding is he is the emanation of one of the disciples of Dudjom Lingpa who attained rainbow body. It seems he has eliminated reference to this from any website associated with him, I think he prefers to be humble and not broadcast these things.

This is true. It was a disciple of Dudjom Lingpa's -- Anam Lama.

I found references to Anam Wangchen in "A Clear Mirror: The Visionary Autobiography of a Tibetan Master" by Dudjom Lingpa

Adamantine wrote:My understanding is he is the emanation of one of the disciples of Dudjom Lingpa who attained rainbow body. It seems he has eliminated reference to this from any website associated with him, I think he prefers to be humble and not broadcast these things.

This is true. It was a disciple of Dudjom Lingpa's -- Anam Lama.

I found references to Anam Wangchen in "A Clear Mirror: The Visionary Autobiography of a Tibetan Master" by Dudjom Lingpa

Presumably. I think Anam Thubten's old bio, back when he was Tulku Thubten Rinpoche, referred to his prior incarnation as Anam Lama. But Wangchen--Great Power Anam--sounds good, too. You know, Dudjom RInpoche was an incarnation of Guru RInpoche, Yeshe Tsogyal, and Kheuchung Lotsawa--so these things happen.

In Thailand Ajaan Panya’s remains were cremated at Baan Taad Forest Monastery. "His funeral ceremony was the largest event ever held there—an estimated 50,000 people attended to pay their final respects, including over 4,000 monks. Something extraordinary occurred on the day of his cremation. The sky was clear and cloudless. Yet, on 3 separate occasions, a circular rainbow appeared in the clear blue sky, each time encircling the sun like a large, luminous halo. The rainbow first appeared as his casket was being placed on the funeral pyre; it appeared again later when his life story was being read aloud; and yet a third time when Ajaan Mahā Boowa lit the funeral pyre. It was as though the power of his spiritual attainment had created an external, visual image to reflect the depth and subtly of his virtue for all to see"
A miraculous event also took place when Ramana Maharshi passed. At that moment a shooting star, vividly luminous moved slowly across the sky. This was witnessed by many thousands of people in various parts of India.
It appears that when an enlightened being passes there can be unusual, even extraordinary phenomena that manifests for all to see.